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Diversinet: Secure Records Access on the GoBy Pedro HernandezJanuary 29, 2007
Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania is changing the way its members interact with their medical histories using a secure patient record access platform anchored by software from Toronto-based Diversinet. Among the most sensitive and valuable sets of records attached to a person are those compiled by healthcare providers. While privacy is paramount, it must be weighed against the need for timely access and portability. Essentially, says Diversinet's Chief Security Officer, Stuart Vaeth, organizations like Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania with a high degree of customer engagement are "looking to provide more convenient access to their client base." To address these concerns, his company is helping companies take the first steps in what may become a staple in admittance procedures in the years to come. With MobiSecure Wallet and Vault, patients are afforded access to their insurance information via the Wallet software that resides on their handhelds or cell phones. A one-time password is generated during this process, which is only valid for that session. Vaeth describes what this "check-in by cell phone" future has in store for patients. A patient can visit a new caregiver's office, retrieve their data using the one-time password and fill in forms or even hand the PDA or phone to the admissions clerk, without fear that their information will be retrieved later by a shoulder surfer. Additionally, the software can be used to allow access to important items in a patient's history such as immunizations, past tests, allergies and other notes that may impact quality of care, which can, in turn, be faxed or sent via SMS. Wallet can also securely store that data for offline retrieval. All told, the company envisions firms -- and not just in healthcare -- using MobiSecure as a tool to speed customer transactions and cut down on administrative overhead while maintaining tough protections against snooping. In the case of Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, MobiSecure is being rolled out to 100,000 of its members during the first half of this year. Eventually, they hope to make it available to all of its 600,000 members. Generating those passwords and unlocking the data in this case is the Vault software that resides on a Linux or Windows server. Once it handles its authentication duties, the software "connects to existing back-end information" and parlays the relevant data to the customer, explains Vaeth. Currently the client Wallet software runs on Windows desktop operating systems, BlackBerries and mobiles that run Java, which is supported by the majority of cell phones sold today. The company also has plans for Windows Mobile and Symbian OS support in the near future. Given the limited screen real estate of mobile devices, the experience nonetheless balances user-friendliness and the need for strong security, notes Vaeth. Presenting data in a "structured, high-level format" allows users to access relevant data with a minimum of scrolling and clicking, which can present a challenge on cell phones. MobiSecure Wallet and Vault is available now. Contact Diversinet for pricing details. The company will be demonstrating MobiSecure at the RSA Conference in San Francisco, February 5 - 9, 2007.
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Measuring Infrastructure Value
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